Developing-tank for photographic purposes.



11. c. MoGANDLESS. DEVELOPING TANK FOR PHOTOGRAPHIG PURPOSES.APPLICATION FILED OUT. 11, 1909. RENEWED FEB. 24 1,001,422.

, 1911. Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

3 BHEETSSHEET 1;

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPM c0 WASHINGTON. D. c

1). 0. MUGANDLES S. DEVELOPING TANK FOR PHOTOGRAPHIG PURPOSES.

APPLIOATIQN FILED OCT. 11, 1909. RENEWED FEB. 24, 1911.

,OO1 ,422; Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

cnLlmnlA PLANOGRAPH (0., WASHINGTDN, IL c D. C. M GANDLESS.-TJEVEIDPIBTG TANK FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED 001211, 1909. RENEWED IEB. 24, 1911.

' Patented Aug. 22, 1911,

' I I 3 saBnTHiHnm a.

29 o u ""-r-- f 1 mix a altar/neg 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID CHARLES MGCANDLESS,

OF BOISE, IDAHO.

DEVELOPING-TANK FOR PHOTOGRAPI-IIC PURPOSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 11, 1909, Serial No. 522,069. Renewed February24, 1911.

Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

Serial No. 610,601.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID CHARLES Mo- CANDLESS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Boise, in the county of Ada and State of Idaho, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Developing-Tanks forPhotographic Purposes; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to developing tanks for photographic purposes,and has for its object to produce an apparatus of this nature which willreadily accommodate at one time a large number of photographic plates ofdifferent sizes and enable a photographer to readily develop the samewithout removing them from the tank.

To these ends, the invention consists in the novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts more fully hereinafter disclosedand particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, in which like numerals refer to like parts in all theviews :Figure 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of the tank; Fig.2, is a longitudinal sectional view thereof showing the plate rack inelevation; Fig. 3, is a plan view of the plate rack detached from thetank; Fig. 4, is a sectional elevational view of said rack, taken on theline 44 of Fig. 3; Fig, 5, is a perspective view of one of theadjustable plate holding members detached from the rack; Fig. 6, is anenlarged detail side elevational view of the rack, showing two of theplate holding members in place; and, Figs. 7, 8 and 9, are views ofdetached details of various parts.

1 represents the developing tank, provided with the cover 2, having thedished cavity 3, through the bottom 4 of which passes the inlet 5 fordeveloping fluid and the inlet 6 for water. Below the bottom 4 is aplate diaphragm 7, extending over the top proper of the tank, andprovided with inlets 8, 9, 10 and 11, as shown. The cover 2 is alsoprovided with depending flanges 12 fitting liquid tight all around thebody portion of the tank 1, and having the lugs 13 engaged by themembers 14 of the locks 15, as best illustrated in Fig. 7. These locksmay be of any suitable form, but I prefer to provide the same with thecam lever 16, in order that when the same is turned on its pivot 17 adrawing action may be exerted upon the lugs 13, thereby producing atight joint between the extreme upper edge 18 of the tank 1 and theplate 7, as will be readily understood.

20 represents any suitable outlet at or near the bottom of the tank,controlled by any suitable cook 21; but I prefer a cock of the rotaryplug type as shown, in order that a simple turning of the same willserve to regulate the outflow of the water.

So far as now described, the developing fluid may be admitted into theinlet 5, and when the cook 21 is closed, the tank being liquid tight,the whole apparatus may be turned bottom side up or rested upon one ofits sides in order that the developing fluid may readily reach allportions of the plates that may be contained in the tank. In the sameway, water may be kept flowing steadily through the tank by admittingthe same through the inlet 6 and permitting it to run out at any desiredspeed through the outlet 20.

Inside the tank rests between the feet or brackets 22 placed at the topand bottom thereof, the rack or plate holder 23, see Figs. 3, 4 and 5,provided with the plurality of plate holding members that will now bedescribed :-This rack 23 is of the general shape of the tank in crosssection, and is provided on its interior at each end with the plateholding members 24 and 25, as illustrated. Near the member 24 andforming an extension thereof is the adjustable plate holding member 26,having the right angular extension 27 and the turned over lip 28 at theupper end of said extension, as best seen in Fig. 6. This turned overlip slips over and slides along the upper rail 29 of the rack proper,while a similar turned up lip 30 embraces and slides along the lowerrail 31 of the rack proper. The extension 27 of the member 26 is alsoprovided with a spring catch 32 engaging notches 33 in the upper rail29, and said extension 27 is also provided with a similar spring catch34 adapted to engage similar notches in the lower rail 31. It is evidentthat if the member 26 be adjusted along the rails 29 and 31 that thecatches 32 and 34: will hold it in any position to which it may bemoved. On the opposite side of the plate holding member 24 is a similaradjustable plate holding member 36 provided with similar turned overflanges adapted to slide along the top and bottom rails 37 and 38 of therack proper, as will be readily understood. And in like manner the plateholding member 25 at the other end of the rack is provided withadjustable plate holding members 40 and 11 forming a continuationthereof and adapted to slide along the top and bottom rails of said rackin the same manner as the racks 26 and 36. It is evident from aninspection of Fig. 3 that the racks 26 and 36 may be readily adjusted tothe positions shown in said figure, or that they may be moved back tothe extreme end of the rack proper to occupy positions similar to theracks 40 and 41; and that on the other hand, the racks 410 and 11 may bereadily adjusted so as to occupy positions similar to those illustratedin connection with the racks 26 and 36.

In between the plate holding members 26 and 40 I provide the adjustableand readily detachable plate holding member 45 having a double series ofcorrugations as plainly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. This member 15 isprovided with the right angular extension 46 having the turned over lip18 adapted to slide along the top rail 29 of the rack proper, and alsoprovided with the out-- wardly and downwardly turned lip 29 adapted toslide over the bottom rail 31 of said rack, all as will be clearlyunderstood from Figs. 3, 1, 5 and 6. In order to hold the member 45 inits adjusted position, and to prevent the same from becoming detachedfrom the rack proper the spring catch 50 is provided on the extension46, which catch slips under the turned up edge 51 of the top rail 29, asillustrated. In a like manner on the opposite side of the rack properthere slides a similar adjustable double plate holding member 55provided with a. similar right angular extension having a turned overlip 56 and outwardly and downwardly bent lip 57 as best illustrated inFig. 1. The extension of this plate holding member is also provided witha catch 58 similar in construction to and performing the same functionas the catch 50 on the extension 46 of the member 45.

It is evident from the construction so far described, that by suitablyadjusting the members 26, 15 and 40, plates 60 of varied dimensions maybe readily accommodated and in like manner by suitably adjusting theplate holding members 36, ll and 55 plates 61, 62 and 63 all of the mostvaried dimensions may be also readily accommodated.

A cover 65 provided with perforations 66 and hinged at 67, see Fig. 2,is provided for the rack 23 and serves to hold the parts securely inposition. This cover, if desired, may be further provided with a handle68 capable of being folded down and with a snap catch 69 for securelyholding it in position.

A partition 70 is preferably provided in the tank between which and onewall of the tank proper the rack 23 snugly fits, and this partitionleaves a clear passageway 71, as best illustrated in Fig. 2. In thecover 2 between the bottom 1 of the depression 3 and the diaphragm plate7 is located another par tition as shown in Fig. 2 which separates thepassage of the developing fluid from the water passages, and whichforces the said developing fluid to flow through the orifice 8, alongthe passage 71 and to rise from the bottom of the tank upwardly intocontact with the plates.

The operation of the apparatus will be clear from the foregoing, but maybe briefly summarized, as follows :Plates of any desired size are placedin the rack 23, and the plate holding members are suitably adjusted toaccommodate the sizes of the various plates; when the cover 65 of therack is securely closed by means of the catch 69, and the rackcontaining the plates is then placed in its position in the tank, asillustrated in Fig. 2. The cover 2 of the tank is then slipped over thebody portion 1, so that the brackets 22 attached to the diaphragm plate7 of said cover may rest upon the top 65 of the plate holding rack andhold the same securely in position. The locks 15 are now engaged withthe lugs Ben the cover and the cam levers 16 are turned in order toproduce a. liquid tight joint between the up per edge 18 of the body 1and the diaphragm 7. Developing fluid may now be introduced through theinlet 5, the outlet passage 20 being closed, the said fluid will flowthrough the orifice 8, along the passage 71 to the bottom of the tank,when it will rise in contact with the plates in the well known manner.Vhile this operation is going on the tank may be freely reversed andturned on its sides so as to bring the developing fluid into intimatecontact with all portions of the plates. There being no passages throughwhich light can enter during this operation the operator is assuredagainst accident from that cause. After the developing fluid has actedfor a sufficient time it is allowed to pass out of the tank through theorifice 20 and water is introduced through the inlet 6, and permitted topass down through the orifices 9, 10 and 11, into contact with theplates. It is preferable to have this water run continuously through thetank, and to this end, the tank may be first filled with water and thenthe cook 21 may be opened suiiiciently far to let the same run out onlyso fast as it runs in, and thereby a continuously running stream throughthe tank may be provided.

It will be noticed that all the passages into the tank are crooked orbroken in direction, and that, therefore any light that might otherwiseenter the tank is effectively shut off.

The plate holding members being readily detachable from the rack 23,they may be easily removed at any time for cleaning or other purposes,and the rack itself being readily detachable from the tank may be easilymoved about by its handle 68.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details ofconstruction and he arrangement of parts without departing from thespirit of the invention, and therefore, I do not Wish to be limited tosuch de tails, except as may be required by the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a photographic developing apparatus, the combination of a liquidand light tight tank; and a plate holding rack in said tank providedwit-h plate holding members at each end, and with independentlyadjustable sliding plate holding members extending from each side ofsaid rack and partially across the same, whereby plates of differentsizes may be accommodated, substantially as described.

2. In a photographic developing apparatus, the combination of a liquidand light tight tank; a removable plate holding rack therein; stationaryplate holding members at each end of said rack; and slidingly andindependently adjustable plate holding members extending from the sidesof said rack partially across the same, adapted to hold plates ofdifferent sizes, substantially as described.

3. In a photographic developing apparatus, the combination of a liquidand light tight tank having inlets for water and developing fluid; aremovable plate holding rack adapted to rest in said tank; a pluralityof stationary members adapted to hold plates carried by said rack; meansfor holding said rack securely in place in said tank; and slidinglyadjustable and removable plate holding members extending par tiallyacross said rack adapted to accommodate plates of different sizes,substantially as described.

4:. In a photographic developing apparatus, the combination of a liquidand light tight tank having inlets for water and developing fluid and anoutlet for the same;

a removable plate holding rack provided with a cover adapted to rest insaid tank; means for holding said rack and cover securely in place insaid tank; stationary plate holding members co-acting with said rack;and removable and slidingly adjustable plate holding members extendingpartially across said rack adapted to accommodate plates of differentsizes, substantially as described.

5. In a photographic developing apparatus, the combination of a liquidand light tight tank; and a plate holding rack adapted to rest in saidtank, said rack provided with stationary plate holding members extending partially across the ends of said rack, with independentlyadjustable plate holding members extending across the ends of said rackon each side of said stationary members, and with adjustable plateholding members extending from the sides of said rack and partiallyacross the body portion thereof, substantially as described.

6. In a photographic developing apparatus the combination of a liquidand light tight tank provided with a cover having inlets for water and adeveloping fluid, pro vided with means compelling said fluid to firstdescend to the bottom of said tank and then to rise in contact with theplates, and provided with an outlet for said liquids; a plate holdingrack in said tank provided with adjustable plate holding members adaptedto simultaneously accommodate plates of different sizes; and a cover onsaid rack adapted to hold said members in place, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a photographic developing apparatus the combination of a liquidand light tight tank provided with a cover having a dished cavity 3, andhaving inlets for water and a developing fluid and having a diaphragmplate 7 separated from the bottom of said cavity; a partition 72 betweensaid bottom and said plate 7; said tank being provided with a passagecompelling said fluid to first descend to the bottom of said tank andthen to rise in contact with the plates, and provided with an outlet forsaid liquids; a plate holding rack in said tank provided with adjustableplate holding members adapted to simultaneously accommodate plates ofdifferent sizes; and a cover on said rack adapted to hold said membersin place; substantially as described.

8. In a rack for holding photographic plates, the combination of aplurality of stationary members, adjustable plate holding memberscoacting with said stationary members; means for holding said adjustablemembers in their adjusted positions; and a cover for said rack adaptedto hold said parts in place, substantially as de spribed.

9. A plate holding member for plate In testimony whereof I affix mysignaholding racks comprising a plurality of corture in presence of twowitnesses. rugations; an extension ri id therewith; a bent over lip atone end 0% said extension; DAVID CHARLES MOOANDLESS' 5 an outwardly anddownwardly bent lip at Witnesses:

the other end of said extension; and a catch L. F. CLINTON, between saidlips, substantially as described. C. H. DZUOK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G.

